Points of interests: Well, top seed Schiavone has already lost, hampered by an ankle injury and upset by Jelena Dokic in the first round. So … Jelena Dokic? Also, say hello to the unseeded Dinara Safina in the draw. She plays Xinyun Han in the first round.

Points of interest: Well, I’d pay good money to watch first round meetings between Melanie Oudin and Vania King, Simona Halep and Alize Cornet, and Iveta Benesova and Gisela Dulko. But that might just be me. Also: JJ!

Points of interest: Polona Hercog and Simona Halep disappointed me in Bogota. Will they do it again?! Probably, and Polona was a finalist here last year, so she’ll have no excuse. Melanie Oudin and a literal pair of Pliskovas (transitioning juniors, thigh tattoos) are also bimbling about in the draw.

Doha

Premier, defending … well, this tournament hasn’t been played since 2008, when Maria Sharapova won it before it was superseded by the Year-End Championships, so she’s sort of defending; Alisa Kleybanova also won a tournament this week last year; draw here.

Points of interest: This is basically Dubai-lite with no number 1 ranking on the line. Still a pretty good draw with some exceptional first-round matches: Flavia Pennetta-Zheng Jie, Lucie Safarova-Agnieszka Radwanska, Alisa Kleybanova-Marion Bartoli, Svetlana Kuznetsova-Shahar Peer (who probably still won’t be allowed to play where people can see her), Azarenka-Hantuchova. It’s going to be insanity from day one. Enjoy.

Points of Interest: The amazing thing about the WTA is that, with a half-decent draw, you are never short for things to say in this category. To start with, Wozniacki could get the no. 1 ranking back if she reaches the semi-final – a tough prospect given her draw. Although her probable second and third round opponents (Hantuchova and Kvitova) could be expected to be weary from their exploits this week, there’s also Yanina Wickmayer and Li Na in her quarter. Both Kaia Kanepi (who’s played well in Dubai in the past) and Andrea Petkovic have a good shout in JJ’s quarter, if the perennial wait to see Ana Ivanovic come up with something in a big tournament isn’t over and Sam Stosur isn’t feeling it. I have a feeling about Vera Zvonareva and/or Svetlana Kuznetsova, though. Just saying.

Points of Interest: I’m all about the young guns this week (and most weeks). Let’s see if Polona Hercog and Simona Halep can come up with something. I have major hopes for the latter, who was in fine fettle in Auckland. Still, someone with more than one surname will probably win this one.

Points of Interest: This … is not a good draw. And yet I’m perversely excited. Two words: Heather Watson, who has already beaten Andrea Hlavackova in the first round and will face Olga Govortsova (probably) in the next. Two more words: Rebecca Marino, who is a lot like Delpo, only female and Canadian. And higher-ranked.

Less mental confusion for the ladies, who are dividing their energies between clay and hard courts, but staying firmly rooted in Europe. Despite this, various websites are referring to them as ‘beginning their US Open campaign’. Taking a hell of a run-up if that’s the case, I’m just saying.

Bad Gastein

Amazing to think there was a time when I didn’t know who Andrea Petkovic was. And yet I have no memory of this event whatsoever, so there’s the proof.

Eastbourne always has such a ridiculously loaded draw, like Queens, and this year is no exception. If you don’t believe me, take a look at these first-round matches: Wozniacki-Rezai, MJMS-Zvonareva, Radwanska-Azarenka, Pavlyuchenkova-Safarova, Wickmayer-Clijsters, Peer-Zheng, and Kleybanova-Kuznetsova. Amazing stuff.

Congratulations meanwhile to Heather Watson, who beat her first top-1oo opponent in Tsvetana Pironkova to make it to the final round of qualifying. Good girl.

s’Hertogenbosch (hereafter referred to as ‘den Bosch, as a bona fide Dutch person said I could call it)

Yep, this shit is going to be bananas. In fact, it already slightly is. Fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Shahar Peer in three sets (including a bagel), Elena Dementieva dropped just one game against Aleksandra Wozniak, and Andrea Petkovic beat Sara Errani (who I have been talking up recently, so that’s probably why) 75 in the third. Oh, and Vera Zvonareva won a match in straights. Against Melanie Oudin.